By Marc Menendez-Roche •
Published: 27 Nov 2024 • 7:30
• 2 minutes read
Germany’s preps for potential NATO attacks against Russia.
Germany’s bomb shelters back on the agenda.
Credit: Shutterstock, Carso80
Germany plans bomb shelters: Russia threat sparks Germany s shelter makeover plan.
Germany s bomb shelters are back on the agenda.
In a move straight out of a Cold War playbook, Germany is dusting off plans to turn its basements and bunkers into lifesaving bomb shelters as fears over international threats mount.
The German Interior Ministry has revealed a sweeping new project to identify public and private buildings that could double as bomb shelters. This includes car parks, underground stations, state offices, and even private garages all being eyed for transformation into emergency hideouts.
And yes, there s an app In true 21st-century style, a smartphone app is in the works to help citizens locate their nearest shelter.
Operation Plan Germany takes root.
Meanwhile, whispers of a top-secret plan dubbed Operation Plan Germany have surfaced. There were reports of a secret document leak earlier in November, which detailed possible plans for Germany to support the deployment of thousands of boots on the ground in Ukraine if nuclear tensions escalate with Russia. German parliament was also warned by intelligence officials that Russia would have the capacity to strike against NATO forces within the decade, sending a cold dread rippling through Berlin’s corridors of power.
The bold bunker initiative, first reported by German tabloid BILD, comes as civil defence authorities sound the alarm over the country’s lack of modern bomb shelters. Despite having 579 bunkers, many are relics of the Second World War and far from battle-ready.
While the ministry is tight-lipped about specific threats, insiders say the move is part of a broader response to the international tensions triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Sheltering ambitions
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has already pledged to bolster national defence, but tight military budgets have clipped the wings of many present and past projects. Defence expert Roderich Kiesewetter recently said the country’s military budget would need to triple to meet current and future challenges.
DIY bunkers encouraged
It’s not just government buildings getting the bunker treatment. Ordinary people are being encouraged to take matters into their own hands by reinforcing basements and garages. It’s a make-do-and-mend defence strategy that harks back to wartime resilience.
Looking to the past to secure the future
This isn’t Germany’s first rodeo when it comes to civil defence. But in today’s climate, the stakes are higher than ever. While the Interior Ministry says the plan will take time and cooperation across multiple agencies, one thing is clear: Germany isn’t taking any chances.
So, as the country digs deep both literally and figuratively the question remains: will this renewed focus on bunkers be enough to weather the storm? Only time, and maybe a downloaded app, will tell.
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Written by
Marc Menendez-Roche
Marc is a writer, teacher, and language enthusiast with a passion for making complex topics simple and accessible.
With a background in business and legal communication and an interest in educational neuroscience, Marc has spent over a decade teaching and writing.
Now, as part of the team at Euro Weekly News, Marc enjoys diving into entertaining topics and stories that matter to the community.
When he’s not writing, Marc loves practising martial arts, playing football, cooking up a storm in the kitchen, or spending quality time with friends and family, but above all, Marc enjoys spending time with his son, Macson.
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